Siptu Welcome Bruton Statement On Vita Cortex

Worker's union Siptu have welcomed a statement by the Jobs Minister calling for a resolution for workers currently staging a sit in protest at a Cork plant.

Speaking on Tuesday, Minister Richard Bruton expressed his concern at the continuing situation at the Vita Cortex factory in Cork, which has involved workers at the plant engaging in a sit-in arising from a dispute with their employer over redundancy payments.

The Minister said: “In the interest of achieving an early resolution in this dispute, I would encourage both parties to meet under the auspices of the State’s industrial relations machinery as soon as possible with a view to exploring ways of resolving the issues in dispute.”

Siptu welcomed the comments saying workers will avail of the State's industrial relations machinery, such as the Labour Relations Council, to try and secure their "just redundancy entitlements" if the company declares its willingness to come to the table with "serious intent".

“We welcome Richard Bruton’s statement of concern and Siptu is perfectly willing to use the industrial relations machinery but the company needs to come to the table with serious intent,” said Siptu Organiser, Ann Egar.

The workers including 27 SIPTU members have been staging a sit-in at the plant on Kinsale road for over two weeks after the company claimed that it could not afford to pay their redundancy entitlements. The workers have also called on the facility’s owners to be open and transparent about what assets and funds are available to meet their obligations.

(DW/GK)